At 10:30 p.m. on March 2, a massive transport fleet carrying more than 80,000 men from four divisions of the Island Nation's Army Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army set sail from Zamboanga. Zamboanga was more than two hundred kilometers from Sennah Port and Lahad Datu in eastern Borneo. By the time they calculated it, they could arrive on the morning of March 3. They had chosen to depart at night naturally to avoid attacks by the German Air Force.
At the port of Zamboanga, Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō, Commander of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army, watched the transport fleet depart and vanish into the darkness.
"Amaterasu Omikami, bless us. This landing operation must succeed!" Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō prayed silently. This time, they had committed their main force. The 2nd Division and the 18th Division were both standing divisions of the Island Nation's Army. They had not undergone reorganization and still used the four-unit system, Class A Divisions with more than 28,000 men. If even these troops could not succeed, the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army would likely have no choice but to fill the gap with human lives.
"Commander, we will succeed!" Major General Nakahashi Tarō said.
Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō nodded. "Order the remaining troops to make preparations as well. Once Sakurai and Honda gain a firm foothold in Borneo, the other troops are to depart immediately and reinforce them."
"Yes, Commander!" Major General Nakahashi Tarō and Major General Buryō Isomura replied.
With no other options, the Island Nation's Army Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army could only go all out this time. Although they knew it would cause enormous casualties, this was their only way.
At 1:00 a.m. on March 3, the massive transport fleet rendezvoused with the Island Nation fleet. The warships of the Island Nation